I couldn’t get through on the first call, but I persisted and dialed again. It wasn’t until the third attempt that I finally heard the call connect, and then CC’s faint voice came through: “Zhaoyang… what’s wrong? My signal isn’t very good here!”
I was afraid the call might suddenly drop due to poor signal, so I quickly said, “When are you coming back from Nepal?”
“I’m not planning to return for now.”
“Come back soon… Leyao is in trouble!”
CC’s tone immediately became tense: “What happened to her?”
“When the signal improves, check the entertainment news back home, and you’ll understand…”
“Okay…”
I wasn’t sure whether CC said anything else, but the call dropped due to poor signal. When I tried calling again, I received only messages indicating she was out of service. After repeatedly trying several times, I finally gave up. I believed CC would check the news, and once she learned about Leyao’s recent situation, she would definitely return to China, as she was one of Leyao’s few close friends.
I put the phone aside and gazed out the window into the deep night, lost in thought. Once again, Fangyuan’s “life as a game” theory resurfaced in my mind, gradually transforming into a persistent whisper that troubled me, yet I gained no new insights.
The next day, Mi Cai had already gone to the company before I even got out of bed. I drove alone through Suzhou’s bustling streets and alleys, scouting for suitable locations to run an inn. It was nearly noon when I finally stopped at a small restaurant, ordered some drinks, and rested while watching unfamiliar faces pass by the window. Suddenly, I felt an even stronger longing for life—I no longer wanted to live without a stable home. I wanted to buy my own house in Suzhou, get married, and experience the warmth of family and career success like others my age. As for those past days filled with leather jackets and guitars, I hoped they would never return, because if they did, I wouldn’t cherish them anymore.
I had changed!
Suddenly, a BMW X6 pulled up outside the restaurant, and a young couple stepped out. The man was handsome and charming, while the woman was beautiful and gentle. She held a cute baby in her arms, laughing joyfully at the falling leaves…
I was unexpectedly moved. Quickly, I grabbed my phone, captured this scene in the center of the frame, and sent it to Mi Cai through WeChat… If she was willing, we would definitely be happier than this family that made me envious.
The streets grew hotter in June when a sudden gust of wind blew through. The cars paused at the traffic lights, seemingly freezing the entire city and the groups of pretty girls into a colorful picture. Yet some scattered sounds echoed in my ears like murmurs, and I found myself穿梭ing between stillness and motion, quickly experiencing a full range of emotions before the reckless lifestyle bought by youth suddenly came to an end…
Therefore, I longed even more for Mi Cai to be moved by the photo I sent, to cry and ask me to propose to her, so that we could become a young couple who drew admiration wherever we walked.
Sure enough, Mi Cai quickly called me back. I was so excited that I knocked over the cup of hot tea beside me while answering the phone, but I didn’t even bother to wipe off the spilled water before picking up: “Hey, hey… Did you see the photo I just sent you?”
“I saw it, that’s why I’m calling.”
“What do you think?”
“I want to get married.”
Her thoughts coincided perfectly with mine, so I cast aside all inhibitions and said to her, “Then let’s talk about getting married.”
Mi Cai laughed and said, “You seem to really like communicating lately.”
“Just tell me straight, will you or won’t you marry me?”
“I’ve never refused you, have I?”
“…Then maybe we should find an opportunity to talk with Mi Zhongde. Once the turmoil at Zhuo Mei settles down, discussing marriage will feel more solid!”
“…You really like to communicate now—you used to dislike him so much!”
“What can’t be discussed for the life I envision for myself?”
“Okay… By the way, can you prepare some food and bring it to my office?”
“Of course! What do you want? I’ll go to the supermarket right away.”
Mi Cai thought for a moment and replied, “Make it simple—cook me an Angry Birds omelette rice dish. I want to eat that!”
“Angry Birds omelette rice!… How come I’ve never heard of such a dish before!”
“It exists! You can find the recipe online. Your cooking skills are so good, just follow the instructions!”
I readily agreed, yet I grew increasingly curious about what Mi Cai actually did at work every day that she even knew about an “Angry Birds” omelette rice dish. Thinking again about the cartoon stickers covering her drawer, it wasn’t so surprising after all.
After ending the call with Mi Cai, I searched online for the recipe, bought the necessary ingredients, and returned home to start cooking. After an hour of effort, I finally created an “Angry Bird.” With a sense of accomplishment, I hopped into my car and headed toward Zhuo Mei.
Arriving at Mi Cai’s office, it was as grand and bright as always. Mi Cai was sitting in her office chair, staring intently at the computer. I assumed she was reviewing reports, but upon approaching, I found out she was actually playing a “spot the difference” game, which instantly shattered my perception of her. I had always thought she was serious and focused at work, so I couldn’t help asking, “Have you been playing games all morning?”
“Now it’s break time…”
“Then where’s the omelette rice you asked me to make?”
I handed the food container to Mi Cai, then pushed her office chair—and her—aside and said, “Eat first; I’ll play the game for you.”
Mi Cai curiously opened the container and said to me, “Why only one? The standard version online has three Angry Birds!”
“This is my lonely bird version… Just make do with it!”
“Okay, even though you made this bird lose its family, I still need to thank you…”
While furiously clicking the mouse, I asked Mi Cai, “Thank me for what?”
“Thank you for turning me into a foodie…”
“I was thinking of fattening you up so that those with ulterior motives won’t want to approach you anymore. Then you can settle down with me for the rest of your life… Haha!”
Mi Cai looked at me with a mix of amusement and exasperation, then repeatedly patted my arm and said, “Zhaoyang, you clicked the wrong one… Ah, ah, ah… It should be this picture. You’re so stupid!”
I turned to look at her and finally felt at this moment: we were like a couple living life together, and the last time I had such a feeling seemed like a long time ago. Thus, in mutual gazing, I buried this feeling deep within my heart, ready to savor it when needed, fearing that the next time might take even longer.
So, Mi Cai ate while watching me play the game, occasionally reminding me. At this moment, life seemed to break free from fate and become natural.
Lunchtime passed like this. I lay on the comfortable sofa, closing my eyes to rest. Mi Cai brought me some fruit, peeled it, and handed it to me, then sat beside me watching me eat. Just as I was almost finished, she finally said to me, “Zhaoyang… Uncle invited me to meet him tonight, at his home in Shanghai. Let’s go together—he invited you too!”
My mind once again recalled that extremely luxurious private villa, and the humiliation I once suffered there. But I quickly overcame the negative emotions and nodded at Mi Cai… I had a premonition that after this meeting, my and Mi Cai’s fates would face the biggest turning point since we met!
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage